Toggle lock



April 9, 1946.

A. w. GELPCKE 2,398,220

TOGGLE LOCK V l Filed Nov. 28, 1944 s sheets-sheet 1 F/G. l F/G. 3

IN VEN TOR. ALFRED w, @apc/ 5 ydff ' April 95 1946. A. w. GELPCKE 2,398,220

TOGGLE LOCK Filed Nov.' 28, 1944 s sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. ALFRED W. GELPc/E A. W. GELPCKE TOGGLE Loox April 9,1946.

Filed Nov. 28, 1944 5 speets-sheet 3 F /Gl 8 Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES ,y 'roGGLE Locri i Alfred W. Gelpcke, Brooklyn,v N. Y., assigner to N. Y

The Rawlplug Company,l Inc., New York,

Application November 28, 19411, Serial No. 565,453 i 13 Claims.

ter walls, fibre or glass-wool wall boards and the like. Heretofore, it has been the practice to drill holes in the structures mentioned and then pass through some part of the object that is' to be fastened to the structure, toggle bolt-s which are then inserted through the holes in the said strucf tures, these toggle bolts beingv providedl with transverse members usually referred to in the trade as toggle wings.

The toggle structure is provided with springs which either move the wings transversely tothe bolt after they pass through the hole in the structure or, if but one wing isused, this is mounted eccentrically on the bolt/so that itvwill tip by gravity into a transverse position so as to engage the inner surface ofthe structure as the bolt is tightened up. There is no lWay of locking these toggles or toggle wings into position; consequently, if it is found necessary to take down the device being held by the bolts for any purpose, the toggle arms or wings drop down into the hollow structure and become lost.

It is therefore the principal object oi my invention to provide a toggle lock which can be fastened to the hidden wall 'of the kstructure enu tirely independent of and before the device to be C fastened in place is attached thereto. This makes it very much easier to fasten the device to said structures, and if the device is ever taken down, the toggle lock still remains in place, or it may be'removed and used elsewhere if the device is not to' be returned to the same place.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toggle which will attain the principalobject and yet one that is cheap to'manufacture.

Other objects will appear from a study of the following specicaton, taken in connection with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevationfof one form of guide member to be used with my improved type of lock.

Figure 2 is a view of Figure 1 looking from left to right.

Figure 3 is a view of 'Figure 1 looking from right to left.

Figure 4 shows the guide member ofFigure y1 associated with a present-day type of toggle head having a pair of wings, the same being shown in two positions of operation. y

Figure 5 is a view showing a modied form of guide means in association with a toggle head L(Cl.85--3) of the typeshown in Figure 4, as the Ydevice ie being inserted through a `hole in the supporting structure'.

Figure 6 is a View of the device per' selooking from right to left of Figure 5v, on the line 6 6.

Figure 7 is a view of the toggle'unit of Figure 5 completely installed in holding position.

Figure 8 is a side view of a modied form of guide and toggle lock member,l the toggle head being in a position parallel to the assembly bolt and ready for insertion into the hole in' the supfporting structure. l

Figure 9 is a View of Figure 8 lookingfrom right to left, on the lined-9. V

Figure 10 is a view of the toggle head of Figure 8' with the guide arms and assembly' vbolt shown in section. l Figure 11 is a perspective view of the'structure of Figure 8, ready for assembly in the hole in the supporting structure. y

' Figure 12 is a plan View of a further mo'died formof toggle vlock or headwithaninstallation tool applied thereto.

Figure 13 is a side view of the toggle 'head of Figure 12 with the support and guide arms in positionytogether with the installation tool, the guide arms and Yinstallation tool being cut 01T von the'sectionline Ill-I4. i

Figure 14 isa view on the lin'e |4`|4 `of Figure 13.

vFigure 15 is a plan view of a further modified form of guide member with the toggle lockor head carried thereby'in position to bev inserted in a hole or through the support structure. Figure 16 is a side View of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is an end view of Figure 15 looking from right to left.

Figure 18 is a plan View of a further modified form of structure showing a'diiTerent type 'of installation tool. l

Figure 19 is a side elevation of Figure v18.` f Figure 20` is a view of vthe structure 'of Figure 18 about as it would bel after being installed on asupport structure.

Figure `21 is a plan view' of Aa furthermodied form vof'toggle lock structure. i f Figure 22is anendv'iew cfFigure 2l.- fFigure 23 isaplan viewof Figure 21 with the toggle lockvv or"he`ad inposition to .'beinserted through the support; structure or hole therein;

Referring now to the details wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts inthe various views, I is a guide-memberf-having a'stop portion in the form of anange 2 andra, pair of extended arms 3 and 4. These arms preferably have considerable resilience and are preferably provided with barbs or corrugations which are adapted to engage sharp-edged shoulders 6 on a toggle lock or head having wings 1 and 8. This particular type of toggle head is an old structure being provided with a nut 9 having pivot studs I0. In the assembly of this device to the supporting wall I I, shown in dotted lines, the toggle head is mounted on a threaded stud I2 which preferably has a pointed end I3 for making easy entry into the nut 9; and the wings 1 and 8 are moved together and the whole inserted through the hole I4 so that the ilange 2 comes against thesupport structure II. Then, on pulling outwardly on'the assembly stud I2, the toggle wings are drawn into the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 so the edge 6 engages the cooperating 'barb 5 or equivalent, thereby holding the toggle wings 1 and 8 in locked position. The resilience ofthe arms 3 and 4, which areformed to have a tendency to move apart, also assists in establishing this lock between the arms 3 and 4 and the toggle wings 'I and 8. After the structure has been thus installed, the assembly screw I2 and its accompanying washer I5 may be unscrewed from the nut 8, thereby leaving the toggle assembly locked in position in the supporting structure ready to receive a holding boli'I for fastening any device to the supporting structure I I.

In Figure 5, the guide member has a stopportion I6 with integral arms I1 and I8, all being formed from a piece of metal wire having considerable resilience. The guide arms I1 and I8 are shown in association with toggle wings 1 and 8 similar to those shown in Figure 4, except that they have slots along one side intercepting the locking shoulders 6 to allow the ends of the arms I1 and I8 to be passed therethrough and then bent over at I9 and 20.

As will be seen from Figure 7, thearms .I1 and I8 are formed in a diverging manner so that when the wings 1 and 8 are drawn up` by theassembly bolt I2, as described with respect toFigure 4.

the arms I1 vand I8 spread and thereby cause/the` barbs 5 thereon to be-gripped by the material 'at the end of the slots within which thearms I1 and I8 are positioned. After the device has been installed as shown in Figure '7, the installing or assembly bolt I 2 is withdrawn-ready to receive the holding bolt which will engage the nut 8 as heretofore described with respect to the construction of Figure 4. It may be mentioned that if, for any reason, it is desired to remove the Vtoggle mechanism the same may be done byinserting'the assembly bolt I2 and forcing thewings'backwardly until the hooked ends ISand engage the inner surface of the slot, thereby moving the wings 1 and 8 into closed position as shown in Figure 5. Then, by taking hold of the stop portion I6, the whole device may be withdrawn from the mounting structure.

In Figure 8'the toggle heador lock 2I is'made likea half-cylinder with a nut 9 pivoted therein, while the guide member has a stop portion 22 formed in a somewhat different manner than that of I6 of Figure 6, but having integral'arms'23 and 24 with barbs 5'or other'suitable formations'madc thereon. In the formation of the guide member, a loop 25 is formed therein toa'ct as a stop for the toggle head 2I when it is moved into the 'position of Figures 8 and 11 for insertion through a hole in the support structure. The head 2I Amay be swung or tilted into a position substantially parallel with the arms 23 and`24 by the-'assembly bolt I2 as shown in Figure 11 when the device is ready to be inserted into the hole in the support structure.

It will be noted from Figure ll that the guide stop portion 22 is so formed with a loop 26 as to act as a guide for the holding bolt When this is inserted after the device has been installed in a support structure. Theinstallation of this particular device is similar to that described with respect to Figures 5 to 7 inclusive.

In Figure 12 the toggle head 21 is made of sheet metal with oppositely disposed side anges 28 and 23. Each of these ilanges have holes therein to receive the ends 30 and 3l of an installation tool 32, the resilient arms of which can be pushed together so as to snap the ends 38 and 3l into the said holes. The head 21 has an orice 33 to receive aholding screw, the metal being slitted at a plurality of places 34 so the sectors 35 have con siderable spring action to securely grip the threads on the holding bolt. The head 21 is carried by a guide member 35 substantially the same as shown in Figure 8, holes 31 and 38 being provided to receive the arms 23 and 24 of the guide member. The material around the holes 31 and 38 may be slitted at 38 to give some resilience to the sectors 40 forming the periphery of the holes 31 and 38.

After the guide member 36 and the head 21 have been assembled, the installing tool 32 may be put in place as indicated in Figure 12 and as described, and the device inserted through a hole in the supporting structure. Then, by means of the assembly tool 32, the head 21 is pulled back against the inner wall of the support member and becomes locked in operative position on the barbs 5 or equivalent formations, after which the assembly tool 32 may be removed.

In Figures 15, 16 and 17, the toggle head 4I is quite similar to the head 21 of Figure 12, having side ilanges 42 with holes 43 therein to receive the assembly tool 32. However, in this form, the head 4l has the metal around the screw hole 44 for the holding bolt punched outwardl.Y

and slitted at 45 to give resilient gripping action on the holding bolt. Furthermore, the vguide and support member carrying the head 4I has a stop portion 22 as shown in Figure 9, but .its arms 4B and 41 are formed in a reverse taper from the'plane 48, and the outer ends of the arms, after passing through holes 49 and 50 in the head 4 I, are bent vover into hook shape similar to the hooks I9 and 20 in Figure'l.

In this form of' construction, when the toggle head 4I is moved into the `position shown in Figures 15 and 16 for insertion into the hole in the supportstructure, considerabletension is applied to the arms 46 and 41 so that when'the tool 32 is pulled outwardly, the arms 46 and 41 help move the toggle head 4I into a vertical position and the tool 32 then draws the head against the inner wall of the support structure, where it is 'held by the barbs 5 or equivalent formation. It is to be understood that the plane 48 is located a little distance beyond the inner sur- `face of the support .structure so that when the `ing outwardly prongs -153 and 54 which are the stud 55 is screwed into the toggle head'ii and then the head is pushed outwardly on the arms ofthe guide and support member Sothat the parts take the position as shown in Figures 18 and 19. The device is then pushed through a prepared hole in the support structure.l the head i clears the hole,the assembly bolt 5l is pulled outwardly and the head 5l is drawn into the position shown in Figure 2O against the inner wall of the support structure where it lis retained in thesame manner as described withl respect to the headdl ofFigure 15. Then the assembly bolt 5l is unscrewed, ready to receive a holding bolt.

In Figures 21 to 23 inclusive, the toggle head 58 is somewhat similar to the toggle head 4i in that it is made out of apiece of sheet metal having side flanges 59 'and 60 andV a hole 6| formed therein by punching out the portions 53 and 54 in'a similar manner as shown in Figure 19. 'Ihe guide and support member has 'a stop-.v

formation 62 somewhat differently formed than shown in the previous figures, and its arms l63 and 64 have loops 65 and B6, respectively, Aformed closely adjacent the stop formation B2, whereby the arms 63 and B4 are positioned at a wide angle' as shown in Figure 21, so that after the toggle head 58 has been assembled and the-outer extremities of the arms 63 and 64 .are bent into hooks 61 and 68, the toggle head 58 is forced by the great resilience of the arms 53 and 64 into the position approximatelyas shown in' Figure 2l. In utilizing this form, the arms 63 and 64 are forced toward each other and the toggle head 58 is moved outwardly thereon and tilted into the position as shown in Figures 23, after which the toggle head 58 is inserted through the hole prepared for it. Immediately it passes through the hole, the great resilience of the arms 63 and 64 forces it back and holds it in locked position against the inner wall of the support structure so that no barbs or their equivalent are necessary on these guide arms.

With the constructions shown in Figures 12, 15, 18 and 23, the toggle heads thereof may be pushed through such material as glass-wool impregnated wall board without bein-g obliged to drill or cut a hole therethrough, and that is why the form shown in Figure 18 has the rounded end 52 as this particular type of toggle head is wider than the forms shown in Figures 12, l5 and 23.

It will be noted that where the guide and support member is made out of one piece of wire having considerable resilience, such, for example, as spring wire, it is formed as has been said with a stop portion 22 to serve the same function as the 'fiange 2 of Figure 1 whereby the guide member cannot be pushed through the hole in the support structure.

I believe I am the rst to design a toggle lock which may be installed prior to the installation of the device that is to be mounted on a hollow support structure, and it will be readily understood by an inspection of the drawings, taken with this specification, that many of the details 4may beY varied over considerable'v 'range without departing from the spirit of my invention or Vthe scope of the` appended claimsyfor example, the loops 65 and 66 on the construction shown in Figures 21-23 are not absolutelyles- 'sential to produce 'the necessary resilience; in

' the arms 63 and 54, especially when thef'guide and support structure is made of material. Y

Itis to be understood that the stop formation, as wellas the corresponding stop member 22.in the construction of Figures 5 to 20 inclusive; are so made that-they'will maintain a tension'on the spring-acting arms forming the guides for the toggle head-.in

such a manner as to accentuate the return movement of the toggle head after it has been passed through the wall of the support structure,so that Vin certain installations an insertion tool is not required but is onlynecessary where Yvery-thick structures, havingdeep holes, are encountered and where longer guide arms are needed; orfor hollow structures having irregular surfaces on the reverse side. What I claim is: l. A toggle lock for a holding or toggle ,bolt comprising, a toggle head tiltable for insertion completely through a hole in -a structure and having means to receive said bolt, a guide member having a stop portion with self-spreading arms extending therefrom and carrying said head, and cooperative means between the arms and head for holding or locking the head on the arms close to the hidden or rear surface of the structure to which the toggle is applied after the arms have longitudinally but non-rotatably been moved to holding or locking position, whereby the holding bolt may be removed without operatively disturbing the location of the toggle head for rcapplication of a holding bolt.

2. A toggle lock for a holding or toggle bolt comprising, a toggle head tiltable for insertion completelythrough a hole in a structure and having means to receive said-bolt, a guide member having a stop portion with a pair of selfspreading spaced arms extending therefrom carrying said head, the arms having formations for holding the head against the wall of the structure to which it is applied after once having been moved to this position, whereby a holding or toggle bolt may be applied to or removed from the head without operatively disturbing its location, said arm formation being such that the head may be forced by a suitable stud to move the head into a position whereby the entire toggle assembly may be retreived.

3. A toggle lock for a holding or toggle bolt comprising, a toggle head having means to receive said bolt, a guide member having a stop portion with a pair of spaced diverging arms extending therefrom and passing through the head so the head may be turned longitudinally of the arms for insertion through the structure or hole therein, and having bent ends to prevent the head coming oi the arms while being so inserted, the arms having considerable resilience so as to force the head back transversely on the arms into contact with the wall of the structure after it has been passed therethrough and to continuously hold the head in position to receive a holding bolt.

4. A toggle lock as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that the arms may have formations therein for assisting the resilience of the arms in holding the head in bolt-receiving position.

5. A toggle lock as set forth in claim ,3, further characterized vin thatthe armsrmay have forma- -tlons therein .forassisting `the rresilience pol.' the arms in holding the'head in bolt-'receiving position, and further characterized Vin that means may be removably attached to the head for at s engage the front surface of the structure to which the device is to be mounted, with arms extending therefrom and initially slidably supporting the head so it may be ,tilted von the arms into substantial parallelism with the 4arms for insertion through the Istructure or hole therein, and Athen moved into a transverse ,position with respect lto the arms against said hidden-surface, and means incorporated in the arms for continuously holding the toggle head in position to later receive the bolt-for holding the said device to the structure.

7. A toggle lock as set forth in claim 6, further characterized in that said stop portion is formed integral with the arms.

8. A toggle look as set forth in claim 6, further characterized kin that said stop portion is formed integral with the arms, and further characterized in that the arms have considerable resilience and are formed to have a spreading action whereby when the head is completely through the structure, the arms move it and the stop portion at once against the opposite sides of the structure,

ready to receive the said device and holding bolt or bolts.

9. A toggle lock as set forth inclaim 6, further characterized in that said stop portion is formed integral with the arms, and further characterized in that the arms have considerable resilience and are formed to have a spreading action whereby whenthe head is completely through the structure, the arms move -it'andthe -stop'portion at once against'the-opposite sides of the structure, ready to receive the said device and holding bolt or bolts, the arms having formations thereon to further insure that the headV is held in locking position.

10. A toggle lockY as set forth in claim 6, further characterized in that a long assembly bolt having at least a threaded end may be first screwed into the head for moving it on the guide member into operative position in the structure on which the saiddevice is to be mounted, Vthe assembly bolt then being withdrawn for reception of the holding bolt.

11. A toggle lock for a holding bolt comprising a head anda guide and support member having a stop portion and resilient arms extending therefrom for'carrying the 'toggle head having a hole to receive the holdingl bolt, the arms having Iormations such that they will hold the head securely against the Awall yof asupport structure after having been moved thereagainst.

12. A'toggle lock including a headadapted to receive a holding 'bolt anda guide and Vsupport member tiltably carrying Vthe head whereby the head may be'insertedall the wayr through a hole in a-structure to which the-toggle is'to be applied, the guide and support member having stop means, and vfurther means for holding :the head in a locking operative position on a support structure after it has been installed.

13. A toggle lock for a holding bolt comprising a head and a guide-and-support member having a stop portion with integral arms extending therefrom for carrying Athe toggle head having a hole to receive the holding'bolt, saidstopportion being formed so as t0 maintain 'tension on said arms to accentuate the return movement of the toggle head against the lwall of asupport structure after'having been moved-therethrough.

ALFRED W. GELPCKE. 

